April 14, 2013

Snow-bells

Yesterday in my wanderings I noticed an early blooming bluebell but I had left my camera at home. I thought it might be of interest to post a photo of the flower and another of the place where it is growing and so today The Pointer and I took our walk in that area again, this time with the camera, hoping to find the flower and we did; in the middle of a very nice (and very wet) spring snowstorm.

The bluebell and a whole lot of buttercups live in a sunny spot on this little open ridge just before it slopes down to the stream bottom to the left.

Thank you Jo. Yes, there is much magic in the forests and back country. An awesome place, always decorated with snow or flowers, rushing streams and meadows. And the more of it I see the more I understand.

This species is native only to the 6 westernmost states and the two western Provinces of Canada, but I think it’s pretty closely related the the Virginia bluebell which is a plant that I’ve seen only in photos.

The transitional times are so wonderful. While winter tries to hang on, spring’s insistent. It’s much like the last leaves of autumn, refusing to leave their trees. Beyond that, of course, there’s just something about a snow “frosting” that makes everything look more attractive.

Yes, I love the transition times here. It can be warm and sunny and cold and snowy all in one day. One of my favorite photos was taken about this time in 2008. I was photographing a Glacier Lily in a driving snowstorm and looked way up on the cliffs above me and saw this Big Horn looking down at me.

Hi Montucky, You have excellent photographic skills! That is a lovely flower and snow looks awfully refreshing to me. It will be a warm and stormy afternoon here in FL. Can’t complain. Have a super nice day!

That is a section (640 acres) of land owned by the state and managed for timber. It is close to my house and a pleasant place to walk without a lot of effort. There are lots of wildflowers living there too.